St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s lacrosse team delivered a dominant road performance Saturday, April 4, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, defeating Cedar Crest College 22-3 in a United East Conference contest. The Seahawks improved to 3-9 overall and 2-0 in league play, remaining undefeated in conference action while handing the Falcons their first UEC loss at 8-5 overall and 0-1 in the league.
Fourteen different Seahawks found the net in the victory at The FalconPlex. St. Mary’s College built a commanding 16-0 halftime lead with eight goals in each of the first two quarters. Cedar Crest scored once in the third period, bookending a pair of SMCM tallies to reach 18-2 with 4:41 left in the quarter. The Seahawks responded with a 4-1 closing run.
Sophomore attacker Sophia Kent from Chesterville, Maryland, and Gunston School contributed a goal and two assists in the final stretch. Senior captain Katelin Scala from Catonsville, Maryland, and Mount de Sales High School posted a season-best seven points on two goals and a season-high five assists. Junior attacker Grace Maurice from Clinton, Connecticut, and Cheshire High School recorded a career-high four goals. Kent added a career-high four assists for five points.
First-year attackers Ava Kessel from Baltimore, Maryland, and Sparrows Point High School, and Abigail Lum from Galena, Maryland, and Caravel Academy each scored their first collegiate goal. Lum also recorded her first two career assists, two caused turnovers and one draw control.
The Seahawks controlled the statistical battle. They outshot Cedar Crest 33-6 and held a plus-9 turnover margin, forcing 10 of the hosts’ 25 turnovers. St. Mary’s College collected 22 ground balls to 14 for the Falcons. Senior captains Gina Jaffurs from Leonardtown, Maryland, and St. Mary’s Ryken High School, and Scala, along with first-year Sarah Fitter from Ellicott City, Maryland, and Marriotts Ridge High School, each picked up three ground balls.
In draw controls, the Seahawks held a 15-12 edge. Scala won four and junior defender Claire Boudreau from Towson, Maryland, and Towson High School secured three. St. Mary’s College converted 3 of 4 eight-meter shots. Goalie Izzy Feddor made nine saves for Cedar Crest, while three different Falcons scored.
Scala and Maurice led the attack alongside Hope Harrison with three goals and one free-position conversion, and Sanne Elling with two goals. The balanced scoring reflected the depth that has characterized the team’s recent conference performances.
The win followed a 17-2 league-opening victory over Wilson College on March 28 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The Seahawks dropped a 18-9 non-conference decision to Mary Washington on April 1 at home in St. Mary’s City before traveling to face Cedar Crest.
St. Mary’s College returns to Jamie L. Roberts Stadium in St. Mary’s City on Saturday, April 11, for a 1 p.m. United East Conference home game against Notre Dame of Maryland. The contest serves as Senior Day and features a Morgan’s Message dedication. Notre Dame of Maryland enters at 0-8 overall and 0-1 in the league.
The performance keeps the Seahawks positioned strongly in the United East Conference standings as they pursue postseason opportunities in the small-college program based in Southern Maryland. Depth across attackers, midfielders and defenders, combined with strong ground-ball and draw-control work, fueled the decisive margin against Cedar Crest.
